German beggar uses charity donation to party in Pattaya

Mr. Benjamin Holse, a German beggar with a very swollen leg was discovered living rough and begging around the Khao San Road in Bangkok. The tourist police and a German charity came to the man’s aid after photographs of him found their way around social media sites.

Mr. Chumphol Thiangtham, the chairman of Deutscher Hilfsverein said that Mr. Benjamin Holse had been put in a guest house while the charity organization liaised with the German Embassy to organize a new passport for the man on further verification of his identity. He went on to say that the organization had previously approached the German beggar and had offered to help be he had turned the offer down.

Mr. Holse arrived in Thailnd on September 2nd by Chinese Eastern Airlines on a one way ticket. Tourism police officer Piyaphong Bukhunthos said the police first contacted Mr Holse on Wednesday and the German had said his passport, wallet and other documents had been stolen.

A police Facebook page later quoted Mr Holse as saying that the excessive swelling on his legs was a congenital symptom, and his condition was neither elephantiasis nor painful.

After being given a hotel room and reportedly being given THB50,000 in donated cash it now appears the man, rather than taking a flight home, is partying in Pattaya. Reports go onto claim that Benjamin made comments blaming Thai people’s stupidity” for giving him the money. The police in Pattaya brought the man in for questioning but in the end he was released as the police had nothing to actually charge him with.

Recently a Pattaya resident posted photos of the man showing him once again begging on the streets.